Glenbeigh Towers, Co Kerry
(also known as Winn's Folly)
Glenbeigh Towers, also known as
Winn's Folly, at Glenbeigh in Co Kerry was built in 1867 by Lord Headley of Aghadoe. It was designed by E W Godwin who also built
Dromore Castle, featured on this site. Both buildings were to suffer extensively from damp. This is probably why the Headley's never actually lived in Glenbeigh Towers and it was inhabited instead by estate staff.
Lord Headley was a deeply unpopular landlord who charged excessive rents in order to pay for his castle. Evictions were commonplace and his brutal agent, a Mr Roe, was responsible for the considerable sufferings of the tenants of the estate. Before long Lord Headley's affairs drifted into insolvency and he left Glenbeigh.
During World War I the castle and grounds were let to the British Military Command and used as a training centre for reservists.
The Irish Republican army burnt the castle in 1921 and its ignominious life was at an end.
Lord Headley was a deeply unpopular landlord who charged excessive rents in order to pay for his castle. Evictions were commonplace and his brutal agent, a Mr Roe, was responsible for the considerable sufferings of the tenants of the estate. Before long Lord Headley's affairs drifted into insolvency and he left Glenbeigh.
During World War I the castle and grounds were let to the British Military Command and used as a training centre for reservists.
The Irish Republican army burnt the castle in 1921 and its ignominious life was at an end.
Although a ruin with a black reputation as a house, Winn's Folly makes an interesting stop whilst on the famous Ring of Kerry tourist route. It is easily accessible from a main road and, although not a particularly interesting as a ruin, being really just a shell, affords fabulous views if the weather is clear (which, as you will see, it was not the day we visited!)
Copyright © 2002 Ruinhunter.co.uk